Chess Puzzle #2R4sJ — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen e3; rooks f1/g7; knights d3/g1; pawns d5/e4/h7. Black: king h8; queen a5; rooks b2/b8; bishop g4; pawns a7/c3/d6/g5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb2 — knight d3→b2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxb2+ — rook b8→b2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
3. Best move: Qa1# — queen a5→a1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qa1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/p5RP/3p4/q2P2p1/4P1b1/2pNQ3/1r6/1K3RN1 w - - 0 31

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